Incubator egg tray



June 2, 1931. w. F. HlLLPoT INCUBATOR EGG TRAY Filed May 14, 1929 j inthev vertical's'uspension connectors 2O and r21 in links or other openings beneath those .to beeligaged'lby saidhookm'embers 82 and Which is shown at the left handside of Fig.

vthe flexible Vsuspension c'onnector22, and exof` thetrayV so that the threehools may ne j engaged with their respective suspensionconnectors' by movement'in thesame 25, and 26. Said plates are rigidly connected with said tray frame 8 by respective rivets Y 28, 29, and 30 in the respective vertically pendent position shown; so that all Vofthe parts of the tray above described are in rigid relation With each other.

As shown inFigs. `I and II; 'said suspension means 16 and'l? are hooks which extend" in respectively opposite directions at .the regions thereof which.V engage the suspension.. means 20 and 21, but the points 32 and 33 of said hooks 16 and 17 point in the same direction, to Wit, from the front end of the tray l, toward the rear end thereof; so that they may be simultaneously engagedlin links or other openings in the flexible suspension connectors 2O and 21.

As shown in Figs. III and IV; the suspension means'18'is a hook, a portion of which engages in a link or otheropeningfof tends in av direction different from, and in Yfact transverse ito',"the directionV of the extension of said hooks 16 and` 17, but the point of said hook 18 also Apoints toward the rear general direction, ipe., fromfronttorear."-g

As shown in Figs/III andIVgxSaidpl-ate 26 of the suspension means`18 has thefguiding means 35v in unitary connection therewith, being a pendent projection which extends doivntvardlylbelowsaid'bottom Wall 2 `fof the tray to a sufficient extent to adequate- Y lyfzengagein the longitudinal groove or recess -36 ofthe guiderail 37 ofthe loader.AY

As indicated in Figs' and 1I; said loader rail-87 has the handle 38 at the jouter end thereofand carries thecrss-loarL 39 having VlhooksflO and'cl at the opposite 'ends' thereof` in vertical alinement With the hook members 32 `and 33 and pointing 'in the same direction, so `Athat said hooks 40 'andelmavbe engaged 33. The opposite,inner, endof said loader rail 37 has the hoolrt extending in the same y vand adapted to be engagedrin arlinkor other 'Lidescribed are such that-.the three hooks of the i 522, beneathrthe openinginfwhi'ch the tray 'l hook 'member 18 is adapted to be engagedf opening in the flexible, suspension connector "The construction and@ arrangement above loaderimaybe respectively engaged with the c. 'iiexible-suspen'sion connectors-20, 21,- and 22 so that-the loader'is in positionito temporarily support a tray, andthe Weight of a charge of eggs' therein, while the trayY is-be? ing "slidfin between-the flexible suspension connectors 2O andY 21 'and' into` engagement y Witliithose .connectors and 'the connector 22.

- as defined in the appended claims. 'i r if lfAn lincubator After each tray 1 is thus engaged With said three iiexible suspension connectors, the

loader is Withdrawn and inserted in position gagement and removal of the successive trays from their position shown in Fig. V. ln

from the position shown in Fig.V, each tray isadapt'ed'to,cooperate with the'loaderso as tofacilitatesuch operation and enable aj sin- 'gle Voperator to perform the same, Whereas,

`Without such cooperative means', twoV operators would be required; to eect' such-operation Whi'le stationedat respectively front and rear ends of the trays. 1 v

j Inrwhat vis termed custom hatching, it

is necessary toide'ntify each tray load of eggs With the name of the customer to Whom the egg'sbelong and,ffor1that purpose, I find it convenient to provide the tray With a card holder 45, conveniently fo-rmed of a 'sheet metal stamping rigidly connected Withfthe frame 8. at its edges and affording a space bevtvreen' them for the insertionof a card 46 coni taining a namev or other-.identifying mark. 'I

i However,- I dofnot desireV to limitmyself to the precise detailsof construction, arrangement, or method of vprocedure herein set forth, as it `is lobvious thatvariousA modificaftions may befmade therein Without departing from Vthe essential features of tmy invention,

fclairnzw i, fv :egg tray, including suspension means affordingrespective points of suspension,inspacedzrelation, adapted to detachably fiti'n openings inrespective flexible suspension lconnectors and guiding means on said-.tray arrangedto limit-to rectilinear reciprocation the'movement of said trayuplon aT'loader-guide rail; whereby said tray is Yadapted to be `temporarily, supported and? 'uided fu on aloade'r to and from en a e` *directionras the other hook'pomts aforesaid g 7 p g g ment with-said suspension connectors. Y, 21. Anegg tray asvin claim v1; lincluding 3. An' egg'tray as.y in claim -1;-Wherein the suspensionmeans include a hook plate.rigid-' lly connected with the ay'at one end therof,

and theguiding means that hook plate. Y i Y 4. An egg tray. as inclaim 1 ;including a an integral part of either operation of introduction or removal metal frame at' its upper edge, r .connecting'f'lag said suspension means and guiding means in n rigid relation.

5. An incubator egg tray having bottom and side walls formed of a single piece of reticulated wire fabric, and having a reinforcing frame at the upper edge of said walls including sheet metal forming flanges respectively pending inside and outside of said Walls; tray suspension means on said frame affording respective points of suspension, in spaced relation, adapted to detach ably lit in openings in respective iexible suspension connectors; and respective fastening means for said suspension means; said fastening means extending thru said frame flanges and the reticulated fabric between them; whereby said Walls, frame, and suspension means are rigidly connected.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Frenchtown, New Jersey, this 10th day of May, 1929.

WILLIAM FINNEY HILLPOT. 

